Pleasantville, N.Y. - The Adelphi University men's basketball team started their season on a high note, closing out a 78-74 win over Chestnut Hill College on day one of the Conference Challenge, hosted at Pace University on Saturday evening.
The Panthers (1-0) saw three different players in double figures as newcomer
Jake Hlywiak led the way with 18 points as
Ronnie Silva and
Isaiah Salter each chipped in 16. The trio was lethal from three-point range, combining to shoot 13-for-22 from beyond the arc, especially while the Griffins (0-1) fell short in the same category, only shooting 22 percent from downtown.
Wasting no time after the opening tip, Silva drained a three that sparked a 10-0 run for the Panthers, a lead they never relinquished. The biggest advantage for Adelphi came at 10:21 in the first half and again right at the break; first, when
Chris Coalmon pulled down an offensive board and went back to the rim, making it 29-11. The Griffins, despite 13 attempts at the free throw line, were still trailing by 18 at the break, as a last second jumper from Silva fell in to make it 43-25.
Coming out of the break, Chestnut Hill was first to get on the board, Adelphi managed to once again work itself out to an 18-point lead, this time courtesy of
Elijah Perry from three. A 14-3 run in favor of the Griffins brought them within single digits of the Panthers with just under eight minutes to play in the second half. Conor Regan, who finished the game with 19 points, got the visitors within four, capitalizing on a turnover from the home team, but Salter was quick to respond with back-to-back buckets to keep their opponents at bay.
With under 30 seconds left in regulation, Chestnut Hill used a turnover from Adelphi into a fast break lay up to once again be within three, but Salter put up one of two shots from the charity stripe to make it a four-point game as time expired.
Adelphi will experience a quick turn around and play cross-town rival Molloy College at 2:00 p.m. inside the Goldstein Fitness Center on Sunday, Nov. 14.
